India boosts AI infra with 20,000 new GPUs, total now over 38,000

India is set to add 20,000 more GPUs to its AI infrastructure, with total investments likely exceeding $200 billion. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also highlighted a focus on R&D, AI awareness, and the need for stronger regulations.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said India is expected to add another 20,000 more GPUs, taking the total available capacity beyond the existing 38,000 GPUs, with the aim of strengthening the country's AI compute infrastructure.

A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is a powerful computer chip that helps machines think faster, process images, run AI programs, and handle complex tasks more efficiently than a regular processor. Under the IndiaAI Mission, more than 38,000 high-end GPUs have been onboarded and are available at about Rs 65 per hour, which is nearly one-third of the global average cost.

Future Strategy and Investments

Talking to reporters today, Vaishnaw said the next phase of India's AI strategy will place design and research and development at its core, moving beyond foundational infrastructure to building solutions tailored to India's needs. He also indicated that AI-related investments are likely to exceed USD 200 billion at the ongoing India AI Impact Summit, including USD 90 billion already committed.

The government is in discussions with several large companies regarding further investments in AI infrastructure, though he said names cannot be disclosed at this stage.

AI Education and Awareness

He emphasised that AI awareness initiatives are already being implemented across schools in both rural and urban areas, incorporating India's cultural context and regional languages in AI development.

Regulatory Framework and Global Collaboration

On the regulatory front, Vaishnaw noted that a broad consensus is emerging among global leaders on a techno-legal approach to AI governance. India is currently in touch with around 30 countries on technological collaboration and policy development in artificial intelligence.

He reiterated that global digital platforms operating in India must comply with the country's constitutional framework. "Netflix, Meta or any other company will have to work under the constitutional framework of the country they are operating in. Regarding the cultural context, they have to operate in the country," he said.

Call for Stronger Deepfake Regulations

Addressing concerns around misinformation and online harms, the minister called for much stronger regulations on deepfakes, particularly to protect children. "We need much stronger regulations on deepfakes and we need to create a consensus in Parliament," he said, adding that age-based content regulation must be implemented. The government has already engaged with industry stakeholders on additional measures required.

Protecting Copyright in the AI Era

Vaishnaw also stressed the importance of copyright protections in the AI era, stating that content creators must receive fair compensation. "Copyright is also important; we do believe that content creators must get their dues for the content they create. We believe in fair distribution of revenue and we are in dialogue with the platforms," he said.

Addressing Infrastructure Challenges

Responding to questions about power and energy requirements for AI infrastructure, Vaishnaw said significant investments are already flowing in, pointing to the broader USD 200 billion AI investment pipeline.

India's Role as a Global Digital Leader

Positioning India as a global digital leader, the minister said the country has historically shared knowledge with the world and continues to do so through its digital public infrastructure. He said, "India has always given knowledge to the world, today digital public infra is being used by many countries and we are not asking for any royalties from countries using them." (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)